Neuropsychological Characteristics of Wandering in Patients with Drug-naive Alzheimer's Disease

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Wandering represents one of a major problem occurring in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). To find the disproportionate neuropsychological deficit and behavioral psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD) of AD patients with wandering compared to AD patients without wandering, this study examined the set of neuropsychological tests and caregiver-administered neuropsychiatric inventory (CGA-NPI). METHODS: Psychotropic-naive (drug-naive) probable AD patients with wandering (64) and without wondering (278) were assessed with the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery, which included measures of memory, intelligence, and executive functioning. RESULTS: Patients with wandering had lower scores in the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure copy, Fist-edge-palm, Alternating hand movement tests compared to patients without wandering. The degree of wandering in AD patients was significantly related with CGA-NPI subdomains of aggression, disinhibition, depression, and delusions. CONCLUSION: This study showed that 1) AD patients with wandering have disproportionately cognitive deficit suggesting frontal and right parietal dysfunctions, 2) wanderings are related with specific BPSD. Considering these results, AD patients with wandering may have specific neuronal anatomic substrates related with pathology of Alzheimer.